Pocket money and younger children

[Dancergirl]

I have 3 dds, aged 11, 9 and 5. When the older two were younger I didn't give them pocket money and tbh they didn't really need it or want it. They weren't really into stuff, I would buy them an occasional treat or comic and that was it.

I now give the older two £5 per month each.

However with dd3 it's a different story! She's much more interested in buying stuff and is also now aware that her sisters get pocket money and she doesn't. I do feel 5 is a bit young for pocket money but in a way it will teach her the value of money, how much things cost and how to save up.

But do I give her the same amount as her sisters or less? And any conditions attached?

I would make an amount based on age which means that you have to increase the 11 yr olds slightly so that she gets slightly more than the 9 yr old and then you increase it slightly each birthday. You also increase what they are supposed to get with it as they get more. The 5 yr old will get less so will have to save up. I wouldn't restrict with her own money or she isn't learning anything.

My 12 year old gets £1.00 a day that his DH puts into his money box each morning.
DS1 15 gets £20 a week.
When DS2 becomes 14 he will get the same.

We give our 5 and 4 yr old 'pocket money' if you can call it that as we are talking pence and a few £ really. They have to 'earn' it though - simple things like putting dirty clothes in the wash bin, helping me lay the table, putting their shoes in the cupboard and so on.

Instils a sense of personal responsibility, they like earning it, and if they play up the value goes down!

So we give £1 a week as standard - they can earn more with good behaviour 25p for something, and 25p taken away if they are naughty.

They don't really have a sense of the actual value of the cash but appreciate they can get more or less and that working hard is good and they love counting the coins and watching their piggy banks get fuller